Applicability of horse shares to spoils acquired from opening a fortress or city?
General Chapter
Al-Mughni
Book of Jihad
Primary text
Horse shares are applicable whether the spoils are acquired from opening a fortress, a city, or defeating an army. This is the position of Al-Shafi'i, following the division of the spoils of Khaybar by the Prophet (peace be upon him), which involved fortresses, where the cavalryman received three shares and the infantryman one. Furthermore, horses may be needed if the besieged exit to fight outside.
Supporting text
Al-Walid ibn Muslim related that Al-Awza'i mentioned that governors before Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz did not grant horse shares from fortress spoils, treating everyone as infantrymen until Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz disapproved and ordered their inclusion.